July 1, 2015

May the peace and blessings of God be with everyone observing Ramadan.

In the western world, the concept of jihad equals all things evil. In the Islamic world practicing jihad is building God-faring character.

Jihad is an integral part of Islam, but it is the opposite of the evil the western propaganda machine paints it to be. Here are several definitions of the concept of jihad:

1: Every human being fights the conflicts within his heart and soul. Whatever one thinks of as right or wrong, good or evil presents a choice within one’s self. Fighting that wrong or that evil and choosing what is right or what is good is jihad.

2: In literature, as in life, as a writer or a teacher knows, the characters face conflict after conflict and must make choices. That is jihad.

4: Defending one’s religion or one’s belief in Almighty God is Jihad. However, Muslim killing Muslim is not Jihad, and one must separate fanaticism and political war from jihad and religion.

According to Western propaganda we now have jihadists. In Islam there are no jihadists. The word “jihadist” was created by western propaganda and Islamophobia. People killing each other for political gain are not Muslims.

The crusaders were slaughtering Jews, Christians and Muslims in the name of Jesus. Were they fanatics or jihadists? In the US the white supremacists are defending their God given rights to own and make America white. Are they fanatics or jihadists?

Muslims, just like good Christians, fight the Seven Deadly Sins daily. That is inner jihad.

In this Holy Month of Ramadan, inner jihad includes the Ten Commandments of Moses and the Seven Deadly sins of St. Thomas, all of which are positive models to build the character of a good and pious Muslim!